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Fast Facts

Introduction

The Largescale Grunter can be recognised by its colouration. It is silvery-grey above, silver-white below and has four broad dusky to blackish stripes on the sides of the body. The species is omnivorous, and occurs in inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west Pacific.

Identification

The Largescale Grunter can be recognised by its colouration. Adults are silvery-grey above, silver-white below with four broad dusky to blackish stripes on the sides of the body. There is a large black blotch on the first dorsal fin between the third and sixth spines. The forked tail has five dark stripes, the uppermost being on the tip of the fin.

Juveniles are brown with darker brown stripes and regularly spaced white spots. The tail is striped.

Habitat

The Largescale Grunter is an omnivorous species that occurs in inshore waters of the tropical Indo-west Pacific. It is commonly found in brackish waters and mangrove habitats. The Largescale Grunter is often found under floating algae. It is the most common member of the family found under floating Sargassum in north-western Australian waters (pers. comm. B. Hutchins).

Distribution

In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to southern Queensland. Juveniles are sometimes encountered as far south as Sydney.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

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